2 March 1996

For variety try the four great eateries which opened before X'mas. The first is Casa Manolita, hidden away in the lane off the main road in Candolim. You sit on the verandah of a beautiful Portuguese-style house, designed and built by the late and much lamented Dietmar, or sit in the garden and eat what are the best thin crust pizzas in India, bar none, hand made personally by Ayesha in a sparkling clean and well equipped kitchen. Try the Woodcutter (spinach, walnuts and garlic), and the Seafarer (prawns and squid) and the Goa Sausage (With onions or with mushrooms and capsicum), and Emma's special (ham and pineapple) plus the excellent Margherita. Yes, I ate all these (on several visits) once accompanied by Karen Anand. We were not disappointed (the understatement of 1996) Then I set about trying their superlative pasta, on offer with great variety of sauces. This was so good that I could become lyrical but my poems aren't good enough (such al dente pasta should be called al Dante!) Everything is very reasonably priced. Jamshed manages the place very professionally. Ayesha and Jamshed - a lovely couple who live a dream-like life.

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